Raised in Kosciusko County, rural placemaking intern Sara Marshall is certainly no stranger to rural communities.
Outside of her childhood home, you can find the gentle, still waters of Silver Lake, Indiana, where she and her family would paddle their well-weathered (albeit cherished) aluminum rowboat.
As a child, Sara found freedom in riding her bike throughout the small town, often ending up at the old 1930s-era elementary school where she would play and explore. Although it was abandoned in 2004, it was more than just a run-down building to her— Sara was in the last kindergarten class at Silver Lake Elementary before the school district consolidated.
Not only was it a place where she had enjoyed so many memories, but it also served as a tangible reminder of the town’s special history.
Nonetheless, the historic structure was eventually demolished after years of neglect and decay. Now that the heritage site has been erased, she recognizes the difficulty in holding on to those memories without a physical place.
“It was a landmark in our community,” Sara said, reflecting on its significance. “It’s heartbreaking to go back home and see these buildings either falling apart or completely gone.”
Though the past cannot be changed, she is determined to influence the future.
Today, as an intern with the Rural Placemaking Studio, Sara uses her passion for storytelling to help protect the memories and histories of other rural communities through rich, creative placemaking initiatives.
From building digital infrastructure, such as a grants database or a narrative StoryMap collection, to facilitating asset-based community development sessions, Sara has played an instrumental role in the studio’s operations since its spring 2024 inception.
“It’s extremely rewarding,” Sara said. “I get to be in these communities and work with real people who have a real stake in the town’s success.”
Projects like these enable rural communities to increase their capacity to identify potential funding sources and empower them to fully embrace their unique assets, strengths, and opportunities.
“She has such a strong intuition for unearthing the most interesting stories and histories,” said Nicole Vasconi, the center’s Hoosier quality of place liaison. “Our community partners not only come away with fresh design ideas for their projects but also a new way to look at their own communities.”
Sara, a passionate and accomplished writer, also uses her storytelling abilities to share the history of rural Indiana communities outside of work.
Inspired by her mentors to pursue a career in writing, she recently became a published author—a prediction her high school English teacher Steve Henn had made years earlier. Her debut book Creating the Crossroads: 100 Years of Civil Construction in Indiana was made possible through the support of Indiana Constructors Inc., who commissioned her to develop it, and the Indiana Historical Society, who designed and published the book.
As a graduate student in her final semester pursuing her Master of Arts in Arts Administration degree in the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Sara hopes to continue her work in creative placemaking and community storytelling to empower others and drive positive change.
“I see so much potential with her writing and research abilities. I could totally see Sara continuing this kind of work,” Nicole said.
While her future is still unfolding, she sees herself sharing community stories with a focus on healing and potentially pursuing a doctorate to become a professor one day. Regardless of what lies ahead, Sara is committed to preserving the arts and culture that safeguard memories and inspire others for generations to come.
“I want my legacy to have lasting ripple effects,” said Sara, “like skipping stones on Silver Lake.”
